DAY EIGHT: 

Tari Matsikire: Three things stood out to me:

1. The authority Jesus carried.

Throughout Mark chapters 1–4, Jesus speaks and situations obey—demons leave, sickness flees, storms calm, and people are amazed. His authority was not questioned because it was evident (Mark 1:22)

Jesus also gave authority to His disciples, and by extension, to us as  believers (Mark 6:7) ( Luke 10:19)( Mark 16:17–18)

This challenges me to ask: Am I walking in the authority Jesus has given, or living beneath it?

2. We are called to be fishers of people.

Jesus’ call was immediate and intentional:( Mark 1:17)

This wasn’t a suggestion—it was a mission. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to lead others to Him, whether through our words, our lifestyle, or our obedience.

The question that confronts us is honest and uncomfortable:

How many of us are truly fishing, or have we become comfortable just standing on the shore?

3. Obedience often precedes understanding.

The disciples followed Jesus before they fully knew who He was or where He would lead them. Faith required movement first.

( Mark 1:18)

Maud Makoni: I agree absolutely. The disciples getting up and following is very inspiring. Matthew and Mark both emphasize that obedience in how the disciples joined the ministry of Jesus. 

The expansion of the Kingdom of God definitions by Mark are fascinating. Matthew had a reaping and sowing concept. Mark emphasizes the multiplication effect that the Kingdom has. 

A mustard seed is the tiniest thing one can imagine. I want to be rooted in this Kingdom.

Part two :  I found this in the Bible Hub: Teaching Points

The Importance of Location in Ministry Jesus chose strategic locations like the Sea of Galilee to reach as many people as possible. We should consider how our environment can be used to share the Gospel effectively.

Innovative Methods in Teaching

Jesus used a boat to address the crowd, showing adaptability. We should be open to new methods and tools to communicate God's Word in our context.

The Draw of Jesus' Message

The large crowd signifies the compelling nature of Jesus' teachings. Our lives and words should similarly draw others to Christ.

The Role of the Teacher

Jesus' example as a teacher is one of authority, compassion, and accessibility. We should strive to emulate these qualities in our teaching and interactions.

Spiritual Hunger

The crowd's eagerness to hear Jesus reflects a deep spiritual hunger. We should be attentive to the spiritual needs around us and ready to provide the nourishment of God's Word.

DAY NINE

Pst Marvelous Ndlovhu: God of miracles, signs & wonders

Maud Makoni: The God who performed these miracles still performs miracles today.  I am a miracle. What is happening in my life between family, work, and inner beauty formation is a miracle. The favor of God upon my life is a miracle. I pray that we all keep an eye on this miraculous God. He is working even when it does not feel like it.

These scriptures are really impactful. 

“(The Jews, especially the Pharisees, do not eat until they have poured water over their cupped hands, as required by their ancient traditions. Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭3‬, ‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/116/mrk.7.3-7.NLT

Let's not teach man made ideas that is so scary honestly. Holy spirit help us.

Tari Matsikire:  Auntie Maud, that also caught my attention… teaching man-made ideas… hmm. May God help us🙏🏿🙏🏿

Miracles, signs, and wonders… 

The Word of God says we shall do even greater things than what Jesus did. But are we really living that out? Are we stepping into the fullness of what God has called us to?

Jesus said, “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Yet, sometimes prayers aren’t answered immediately—or in the way we expect. Does that mean our faith is lacking? Or is this a reminder that God’s timing and purposes are greater than ours?

Lord, increase my faith and help me trust You even when I don’t understand. 🙏🏿

DAY TEN

Tari Matsikire: I was wondering why Jesus didn’t want the demons to say who He was, but at the same time asked His disciples who they thought He was. I did a quick search, and here’s a short summary:

Jesus silenced demons because truth spoken by evil sources undermines God’s authority and misrepresents His mission. He delayed public declarations of His identity to prevent misunderstanding and premature opposition. In contrast, He invited His disciples to articulate who they believed He was so their confession would arise from personal relationship and spiritual revelation. Jesus revealed Himself progressively, ensuring that His identity as Messiah would be rightly understood through the cross and resurrection rather than spectacle or demonic acknowledgment.

Pst Marvelous Ndhlovu: Thank you for the research!

Eye opening!

Jackie Mateta: Thank you Dr Matsikire. So powerful and enlightening.

Maud Makoni: Powerful I had been pondering and wondering why. 🙏🏽

DAY ELEVEN

Pst Marvelous Ndhlovu: The gospel of Mark focused more on the miracles of Jesus proving that Jesus is a miracle worker & a Son of God!

He is still in the business of miracles!

Tari Matsikire: Amen amen amen pastor 

He makes a way where there is no way 🙏🏿🙏🏿

Tari Matsikire: Jesus taught His disciples to keep watch long before Gethsemane, yet when the moment of testing came, they fell asleep. This reminds us that hearing truth is not the same as living it out. Good intentions alone are not enough—spiritual alertness requires prayer and discipline. In the garden, Jesus prayed while the disciples slept, showing that spiritual battles are often won or lost in quiet, unseen moments. Their weakness highlights our own human frailty, but Jesus’ response was grace, not rejection. The call to “watch and pray” is not for one moment but a daily posture of dependence on God, knowing that without prayer, even sincere believers can become spiritually vulnerable.

DAY TWELVE

Tari Matsikire: How was Zechariah’s question different from Gideon’s request for signs in the Old Testament? Why was Mary’s question—“How can this be, since I am a virgin?”—received differently? And how do we understand Elizabeth’s words to Mary: “Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her”?

The difference lies not in asking questions, but in the posture of the heart behind them. Gideon asked for signs out of fear and insecurity, and God patiently met him where he was, gradually building his faith. 

Mary also asked a question, but hers was a question of process, not doubt—she believed God’s word and simply sought understanding of how it would unfold. 

Zechariah, however, questioned God’s promise despite clear angelic revelation and past evidence of God’s faithfulness, revealing hesitation rather than trust. 

Elizabeth’s blessing highlights this contrast: Mary was blessed not because she understood everything, but because she believed that what God said, He would do. Scripture teaches us that God welcomes honest questions, but faith is revealed in whether our questions arise from trust or unbelief.

DAY THIRTEEN

I have come to understand that Jesus often healed in response to faith. The woman with the issue of blood said to herself, “If I only touch the hem of His garment, I will be healed.” Her healing began with what she believed and declared within her heart before she ever touched Jesus. This makes us reflect: what do we say to ourselves about God, about ourselves, and about our situation before we pray—or even as we pray?

Jesus frequently rebuked His disciples when they failed to cast out demons or operate in power, saying things like, “O you of little faith” or “You faithless generation.” Their authority was not lacking, but their faith and dependence on God were. Scripture reminds us that faith matters deeply to God—“without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). Yet the Bible is also honest about human struggle, which is why the cry “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” is both humble and acceptable to God. Faith is not pretending we have no doubts; it is choosing to trust God even while asking Him to strengthen our faith.

DAY FOURTEEN

Tari Matsikire: Jesus made it clear that rejecting Him is the same as rejecting God who sent Him: “Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Luke 10:16). This truth is at the very heart of Christianity. As Christians, we believe that Jesus came to earth in the flesh, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again on the third day according to the Scriptures. We believe He is alive, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, where He continually intercedes on our behalf. Our faith is not merely in a moral teacher or prophet, but in the Son of God through whom the Father has revealed Himself and accomplished our salvation.

DAY FIFTEEN

Faith Chidzvondo: Luke 12 vs 31 got me